264 ECCENTRIC IN HABITS. 



a soft black, but on moving about the color 

 varies from violet to maroon, from this to deep 

 amethyst, and then to green, purple, and blue. 

 A most extraordinary effect is produced when 

 it faces the spectator with fan-plumes expanded, 

 reaching so far above its head that they look 

 like a pair of arms thrown up. 



The most interesting though not the most 

 beautiful of the family is the Gardener bird, 

 discovered a few years ago by the Italian natu- 

 ralist Beccari. Here is a Bird of Paradise 

 eccentric not in dress but in habits. His plu- 

 mage is modest brown in several shades, so in- 

 conspicuous that the partner of his joys can 

 wear the same tints, which she does. The bird 

 is the size of a turtle-dove. Let the doctor 

 himself tell the story of the discovery while 

 walking through the beautiful forest, so thick 

 that scarcely a ray of sunshine penetrated the 

 branches. He says : 



u I suddenly stood before the most remarka- 

 ble specimen of the industry of an animal. It 

 was a hut or bower close to a small meadow 

 enameled with flowers. The whole was on a 

 diminutive scale, and I immediately recognized 

 the famous nests described by the hunters of 

 Bruiju. After well observing the whole I gave 

 strict orders to my hunters not to destroy the 

 little building. That, however, was an unne- 



